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Boost Workplace Productivity with Sling by Toast: Tips and Features You Need to Know

Boost Workplace Productivity with Sling by Toast: Tips and Features You Need to Know

[ Boost Workplace Productivity with Sling by Toast

Welcome to Sling by Toast

Discover the enhanced features and benefits of Sling, now proudly a part of Toast. Learn how you can boost productivity and streamline your business operations.

Sling by Toast

Key Features of Sling by Toast

  • Labor Costs: Optimize your labor costs efficiently.
  • Task Management: Assign and delegate tasks per shift or employee.
  • Time Clock: Track employee work time accurately, even remotely.
  • Multiple Work Locations: Easily schedule and communicate across locations.
  • Communication: Stay in touch with messaging, newsfeed, and more.
  • Integrations: Manage all tasks from a single easy-to-use platform.

Industries That Benefit from Sling

  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment
  • Emergency
  • Retail
  • Call Centers
  • Caregiving
  • Hospitality
  • Education
  • Healthcare

Get Started Today

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Workplace Productivity Tips

Learn how you can make your team an effective unit with these productivity tips:

1. Provide Seated and Standing Work Options

Offer alternatives to traditional desks such as standing workstations, adjustable-height desks, or even lounge areas.

2. Minimize Distractions and Interruptions

Encourage your team to avoid distractions by turning off phones, closing unnecessary apps, and using noise-canceling headphones.

3. Make Breaks Mandatory

Mandatory breaks throughout the day can help maintain energy and focus, ensuring higher productivity levels.

4. Encourage Eating and Drinking

Ensure your team stays hydrated and fueled with healthy snacks to maintain energy and productivity throughout the day.

5. Add Plants to the Office

Introduce plants to improve aesthetics and create a more pleasant work environment, which can boost productivity.

6. Utilize Natural Light

Incorporate natural lighting or adjustable-wavelength lamps to enhance workplace productivity.

7. Consider an Office Pet

Pets can improve work/life balance and reduce stress. Ensure you have a care plan in place for any office pets.

8. Promote a Strong Sense of Team

  • Arrange leadership activities
  • Organize team-building activities
  • Foster communication across the business
  • Include remote employees in virtual meetings and games

Streamline Scheduling with Sling

Improve workplace productivity by optimizing your scheduling process. Download the Sling app for free today. Sling offers:

  • Cloud-based schedule distribution
  • Time clock and attendance tracking
  • Labor cost management
  • Powerful messaging features

Get started with Sling to save time and boost productivity in your workplace.

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© 2023 Sling, Inc. All rights reserved.

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  • Jordan Van Maanen
Sling by Toast: Revolutionizing Team Management and Reducing Employee Turnover

Sling by Toast: Revolutionizing Team Management and Reducing Employee Turnover

Sling by Toast: Optimize Your Team Management Efforts
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Sling by Toast: The Ultimate Team Management Solution

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Key Features

Industries We Serve

Understanding Attrition Rate

Attrition rate is a vital metric for any business. It provides insight into employee turnover and helps in optimizing team management practices.

Definition

The general definition of attrition rate is the number of people leaving a group over a specific period. In business context, it often refers to employees leaving the company.

Benefits

  • Reduced Costs: Some attrition can reduce labor costs by replacing long-time employees with new, lower-paid staff.
  • New Talent: Fresh ideas and innovation from new hires can boost your team's creativity and energy.
  • Improved Performance: Removing low-performers can enhance your team’s overall productivity.
  • Stronger Company Culture: Attrition can make your company culture more robust and cohesive.

Calculation

Here's a simple formula to calculate your attrition rate:

Attrition Rate = (Number of Departures / Annual Average Number of Employees) x 100

Follow these steps to calculate:

  1. Determine the total number of employees for each of the next twelve months, then find the annual average.
  2. Count the total number of employee departures in the year.
  3. Divide the number of departures by the annual average number of employees.
  4. Multiply by 100 to get the attrition rate percentage.

Keep Your Attrition Rate Low with Flexibility

Offering flexible work schedules can help reduce attrition rates. Consider alternatives to the standard 9-5 schedule, such as:

  • Four 10-hour days
  • Rotating shifts
  • 9-hour shifts Monday through Thursday and a 4-hour shift on Friday
  • 80 hours in 9 days with the 10th day off
  • 6.5-hour shifts 6 days a week

Using a cloud-based employee management app like Sling can make these flexible schedules feasible and keep your team happier.

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  • Jordan Van Maanen
Restaurant Costs: A Comprehensive Guide to Operating Expenses

Restaurant Costs: A Comprehensive Guide to Operating Expenses

[ ```html Restaurant Costs: A Comprehensive Guide to Operating Expenses

Restaurant Costs: A Comprehensive Guide to Operating Expenses

Restaurant Operating Expenses

Running a successful restaurant isn’t just about serving great food. It’s also about controlling restaurant costs so you don’t spend more than you make. As the old saying goes, you can’t control what you don’t measure (or calculate).

In this article, we discuss some of the most important restaurant costs, how to calculate them, and how to use them to run your restaurant better.

Table of Contents

What Are Restaurant Costs?

Calculating Restaurant Costs

The term “restaurant costs” generally describes one-time expenditures on material resources such as food, liquor, dishes, equipment, and software — essential to keep the business running. These are referred to as direct costs.

Restaurants also have recurring payments, such as utilities, rent, payroll, and marketing, usually described as expenses or indirect costs.

Essential Restaurant Costs

Cost of Goods Sold (CoGS)

Cost of Goods Sold in a Restaurant

Cost of Goods Sold (CoGS) is the total direct costs of producing your restaurant’s menu items. Here’s how to calculate this essential restaurant cost:

  1. Pick a time period to examine, such as one month.
  2. Take inventory of all the food supplies at the start of the month and calculate a total dollar value for the entire inventory taken.
  3. Add the value of any purchased inventory made during the period.
  4. Take inventory at the end of the month and calculate the total value.
  5. Calculate CoGS using the formula: CoGS = (Beginning Inventory + Purchased Inventory) – Ending Inventory

Plate Cost

Calculating Plate Cost

Plate cost tells you how much your business is spending to produce specific dishes. Here’s how to calculate it:

  1. List the ingredients for a single dish.
  2. Determine the quantity and price of each item from your inventory.
  3. Determine the cost of the ingredients used in each dish.
  4. Add the cost of all ingredients to get the total cost for the dish.

Labor Costs

Labor Cost in a Restaurant

Labor costs are the sum total of everything spent to keep your employees working. Calculate this number by reviewing previous months’ records or using software like Sling to track your labor costs more accurately.

Overhead Costs

Overhead Costs in a Restaurant

Overhead costs refer to all money spent to keep the doors open and lights on, including electricity, mortgage payments, insurance, and supplies.

Additional Restaurant Costs

Utility Costs

These costs include water, electricity, natural gas, internet, cable, cell phone service, etc.

Equipment Costs

These costs can range from small items such as tableware to large items such as ovens and freezers.

Point of Sale Costs

To control this cost, determine what your business needs — e.g., hardware, software, advanced functionality — and find a system that meets those requirements.

For more free resources to help you manage your business better, organize and schedule your team, and track and calculate labor costs, visit GetSling.com today.

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  • Jordan Van Maanen
Discover the Benefits and Best Practices of Shift Bidding for Employee Scheduling

Discover the Benefits and Best Practices of Shift Bidding for Employee Scheduling

Shift Bidding Explained | Benefits & Best Practices

Sling is now Sling by Toast! Learn More

Sling has officially become Sling by Toast! Discover how this change enhances our offerings and expands our capabilities in team management.

Shift Bidding: What It Is & How to Use It in Your Business

If you think your business might benefit from more employee input into the work scheduling process, consider offering shift bidding. This unique approach to scheduling allows for more active participation and may result in a work calendar that satisfies everyone on your roster.

What Is Shift Bidding?

Employees learning about shift bidding

Shift bidding is the process of allowing your employees to “bid,” or express interest, in working an available shift. These shifts are typically designated either by a manager looking to give their team more control or by an employee needing a substitute. Management usually has the final say, ensuring operational needs are met while giving team members more autonomy over their schedules.

Example Shift Bidding Process

Understanding how shift bidding works can be easier with a visual walk-through. Here’s how managers and employees can navigate the process using the Sling app:

Managers

  1. Open the Schedule tab and hover over a specific date in the Available Shifts row.
  2. Click the plus sign (+) to open a window for entering shift details (date, time, location, etc.).
  3. Publish the shift to alert employees.
  4. Review applications and approve or keep the bid open for more applications.

Employees

  1. Go to the Shifts tab and tap Available to see open slots.
  2. Tap the available shift to view details and apply for the shift.
  3. Wait for manager approval.

Shift Bidding Best Practices

Man learning about shift bidding best practices
  1. Be Specific About Shift Needs: Clearly outline certifications, experience, or seniority required.
  2. Give Everyone a Chance: Ensure fair opportunity to apply for shifts.
  3. Know When to Use Shift Bidding: Choose optimal times for allowing bids.
  4. Monitor the Results: Evaluate the effectiveness of shifts and make necessary adjustments.
  5. Use the Right Tools: Implement scheduling software like Sling to streamline the process.

Shift Bidding and the Restaurant Schedule

Simplifying the shift bidding process

Shift bidding can be beneficial for the food service industry, helping cafes, food trucks, and caterers complete schedules efficiently while ensuring employee satisfaction. However, the right scheduling software is crucial. Look for tools that offer advanced scheduling, integrated time clocks, comprehensive communication, flexible task management, and useful integrations.

Try Sling for free and see what you've been missing.

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  • Jordan Van Maanen
Employee Time Tracking Best Practices for Owners and Managers

Employee Time Tracking Best Practices for Owners and Managers

[```html Employee Time Tracking Best Practices | Sling by Toast

Sling is now Sling by Toast!

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Employee Time Tracking Best Practices for Owners and Managers

Every business needs effective time tracking. It serves as the foundation of all payroll activities and provides insight into the efficiency, productivity, and success of your team.

What We'll Cover

  • Time Tracking Defined
  • Time Tracking Best Practices
  • Sling Makes Time Tracking Easy

Time Tracking Defined

Time tracking involves recording information about when each employee works during the day. It’s an essential practice for both hourly and salaried employees and is used to calculate payroll and project costs.

Time Tracking Best Practices

  1. Abide by All Time Tracking Laws

    Ensure compliance with federal and local time tracking laws to manage wages, overtime, and record-keeping practices effectively.

  2. Consider Military Time

    Using military time can make manual time tracking more straightforward by eliminating the need to distinguish between A.M. and P.M. hours.

  3. Simplify the Process with Rounding

    Round work time to the nearest 10 or 15 minutes to simplify payroll calculations, as allowed by the federal government.

  4. Make the Process Easy

    Keep the time tracking process simple and quick for employees to increase productivity and reduce delays.

  5. Create Instructions

    Provide clear instructions at clock-in/clock-out locations and in employee handbooks.

  6. Take Advantage of Automation

    Utilize modern business software to automate the time tracking process, making it easy to set wages, track hours, and optimize labor costs.

  7. Save the Data

    Retain time tracking data for at least two years as per government regulations to ensure compliance and accurate record-keeping.

  8. Analyze Numbers Periodically

    Regularly review time tracking data to identify areas for improving team management and operational efficiency.

Sling Makes Time Tracking Easy

Sling is the key to easy and accurate time tracking. With features that streamline scheduling, time tracking, and attendance reporting, Sling helps you reduce absenteeism, manage labor costs, and increase productivity.

With Sling, employees can clock in and out from their phones, and managers receive notifications for any late arrivals or clock-in issues.

Visit our website to learn more about our features and how Sling can help your business streamline its operations.

Get Started Today

© 2023 Sling, Inc. All rights reserved.

Available on the App Store and Google Play.

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  • Jordan Van Maanen
Employee Turnover Explained: What It Is and How to Manage It

Employee Turnover Explained: What It Is and How to Manage It

```html Employee Turnover Explained: What It Is and How to Manage It

Employee Turnover Explained: What It Is and How to Manage It

Employee Turnover

Employee turnover is a significant issue that can impact your business if left unchecked. Understanding and managing employee turnover is crucial for the success and stability of any organization.

In this article, we dive deep into the concept of employee turnover and offer you practical tips to reduce it within your business.

What is Employee Turnover?

Employee Putting in Extra Hours

Employee turnover, often quantified as the employee turnover rate, is a key metric that indicates the number of employees who leave an organization during a specific period. It assumes that departed employees are replaced by new hires.

If vacancies are not filled, this falls under a different category of metrics from turnover.

Subcategories of Employee Turnover

Understanding the different types of employee turnover can better inform your management strategies. These are:

  • Voluntary Turnover: When an employee willingly leaves the organization.
  • Involuntary Turnover: When an employer decides to terminate an employee.
  • Internal Turnover: When an employee moves to a different position within the same company.
  • Demographic Turnover: Turnover within specific groups of employees.
  • Retirement: A planned form of voluntary turnover.

How to Calculate Employee Turnover

Calculating Employee Turnover

To determine your employee turnover rate, you can use the following formula:

Employee Turnover = (Number Of Departures / Annual Average Number Of Employees) x 100

For example, if at the beginning of the year you have 150 million employees and 50 million depart, your turnover rate would be:

Employee Turnover = (50,000,000 / 150,000,000) x 100 = 33%

Employee Turnover vs. Attrition

Understanding Employee Attrition

While employee turnover measures the rate at which employees are replaced after leaving, attrition refers to employees leaving without being replaced.

How to Manage Employee Turnover

Strategies for Managing Employee Turnover

Here are several strategies to help you manage and reduce employee turnover:

  • Hire with your business culture in mind.
  • Onboard new employees effectively.
  • Foster a cooperative team environment.
  • Provide competitive compensation and benefits.
  • Recognize and reward employee achievements.
  • Conduct regular and meaningful performance reviews.
  • Improve managerial oversight.
  • Equip employees with the necessary tools and resources.
  • Empower employees to work independently.
  • Maintain clear and open communication channels.

Decrease Employee Turnover Through Scheduling

A flexible and well-organized scheduling system can significantly reduce employee turnover. Using tools like Sling, you can create efficient schedules that balance work and personal life, leading to increased employee satisfaction and retention.

Get started with Sling today to improve your team's management and reduce turnover.

Get Started
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  • Jordan Van Maanen